(Not so) Hidden Hatred in our Neighborhood?

The culture wars are alive and well in our neighborhood. In fact, I would suggest they have taken on a new urgency. A small borough, tucked away in South central Pennsylvania, just voted to revoke an LGBTQ inclusive law. The Republican dominated Chambersburg borough council voted  7-3 to repeal protections from discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity and ethnicity. Those in support of repealing the ordinance referenced unnecessary and perhaps unfair  "special protections" for this group. It rings of the past association of "gay rights" with "special rights". 

The latest fight to score political points and divide our society targets LGBTQ people. 

But what protections do LGBTQ people actually have in the United States in 2022? What protections do they have in the state of Pennsylvania? A great resource for finding more information on existing protections can be found on the M.A.P. (Movement Advancement Project) website available here. 

The data shows us that Pennsylvania, an "at will employer state" only receives a grade of "fair". Pennsylvania can also be compared with other states in the United States available here. As noted in the M.A.P methodology, this grade only grades on existing legislation (which will be lower since Chambersburg repealed their protections) and not the actual climate or how LGBTQ people are treated.

It is truly unfortunate that some of the most vulnerable within our society are being targeted and set up for further discrimination not less. 

So perhaps Chambersburg new sign should read, Chambersburg Welcomes You....Unless you are LGBTQ....

                                            Image Source: Shutterstock.com 351554303

                                        Image Source:  ACLU, available at; https://www.aclu.org/blog/lgbtq-rights/lgbtq-nondiscrimination-protections/its-always-been-about-discrimination-lgbt 

Transgender people are some of the most persecuted people in the World

2021 marked a new record. Not a good one. Certainly not one that anyone should be proud of. You see, 2021 was the deadliest year on record for transgender Americans. At least 45 transgender individuals were murdered in "horrifying acts of violence". These were just the murders reported. A recent report by the Williams Institute documented that transgender people are over four times more likely than cisgender people to be victims of violent crime. 

Violence and murder against transgender individuals is not new. What is disturbing about this new trend in the US, however, is that over 100 anti-trans bills were proposed by lawmakers across 37 states. I'd like to say that this is just a problem with the United States, but it sadly, is not. 

The global data from our Franklin & Marshall College Global Barometer of Transgender Rights (GBTR) suggests that 72 percent of countries in the world are persecuting of the human rights of  transgender people. Only 4 percent of countries are protecting of the human rights of transgender people. 

2019 GBTR Country Distribution by Category

                        Source: F&M Global Barometers, available at fandmglobalbarometers.org

The United States, in fact, receives a failing grade when it comes to the protection of the human rights of transgender people.

                                2019 Global Barometer of Transgender Rights World Map

                

                        Source: F&M Global Barometers, available at fandmglobalbarometers.org 

The most protecting countries in the world for transgender people are Denmark, Norway and Uruguay. The most persecuting: Malaysia, South Sudan, Syria and Uzbekistan. Western Europe is the most rights-protecting region while the Middle East/Northern Africa is the most persecuting. 

                                Source: F&M Global Barometers, fandmglobalbarometers.org 

There is hope, however. The GBTR mean score for all countries (204 measured) rose from 40.8 in 2011 to 45.8 in 2019. However, there is a long way to go before transgender people are afforded the same human rights protections as their cis-gender citizens. Let's hope that 2022 will ring in a new year for greater transgender human rights protections rather than less.